In collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Shinshu University and JEC Co., Ltd., the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed a survey map transmission system using an image data compression method (Dispersed Reference Method or DR compression) that was developed by the AIST. The system includes digital watermark method developed by Shinshu University.

DR compression uses a coding method that allows various compression methods to be employed so that compression is optimized according to the characteristics of the target image. DR compression achieves high compression ratios for various types of images. For a standard image, DR compression achieves an average compression ratio of around 30 and a maximum compression ratio of over 50 (i.e. after compression, the image data size is less than 1/50th that before compression). As the method uses reversible encoding (loss-less encoding), the compressed image data can be completely recovered.

High compression of print images is difficult to achieve with existing methods, but the new system excels with print images and can achieve double the compression ratio compared with JBIG compression, an international standard.

It is extremely rare for such high compression ratios to be achieved with loss-less encoding. As a result, the method should be adopted as an international standard decompression method. ISO discussions are underway. As well as promoting international standardization using technology developed in Japan, it is extremely important from a strategic perspective to facilitate the widespread adoption of DR compression technology using this system.